Divorce in Bed Chapter 37

“President Do Jingyu’s slush fund issue is a time bomb that will explode eventually. It doesn’t disappear just because we keep it covered up. In fact, the risk is much greater if it festers and bursts at a point when we have no control over it.”

Dowon continued, gesturing toward the chart with a nod of his head.

“If we burst it first on our end, it becomes a reform rather than an accident. We can package it as a self-purifying action—a declaration of our resolve to proactively excise the festering wound at the group level and aim to be a transparent, ethical company.”

“Yes. You are correct. But won’t it be difficult to defend the stock price in the immediate future?”

“A short-term drop in the stock price is actually an opportunity.”

A faint smile brushed Dowon’s lips. It was a charismatic smile, steeped in confidence.

“Because it gives us a justification to reabsorb shares released at bargain prices. It is the optimal timing to reorganize the KD governance structure and solidify management rights.”

He did not speak of vague hopes, nor did he argue with raised emotions. He simply moved those who followed him with clear logic and a certain vision.

“Prestige does not come from hiding things; it comes from taking responsibility. KD will be re-evaluated as a group with stronger ownership through this incident.”

Dowon fixed his gaze on the head of the legal team.

“I will handle the image. I will handle the cleanup. You focus only on delivering the legal strikes. So that we can bring him down for certain with a single surprise attack.”

“…Yes. Understood, Director.”

In the war involving the Chairman’s absence and corporate succession, the KD legal team had chosen their path. They chose to grab Dowon’s rope rather than Do Jingyu’s. After confirming the bowed heads of the team members, Dowon continued the proceedings.

“Good. Let’s return to the original subject.”

His calm voice laid low.

“The Taesung Logistics matter is merely a smokescreen. The primary objective is to keep President Do Jingyu’s attention tied to the prosecution’s investigation. We will drive the real blade in while my paternal uncle is distracted with organizing a defense team and blocking the media.”

Dowon signaled to the secretary standing behind him. As if waiting for this, the secretary handed a thick envelope to the head of the finance team.

Inside was a certification of contents stamped with the corporate seal of the ONE Fund, which Yeohwi had established in Switzerland.

“This is…?”

“It is a notice to be sent to Stone.”

Dowon explained coldly.

“It specifies that a significant risk has occurred in Stone’s credit rating due to the freezing of Taesung Logistics’ funds. Based on this, the creditor, ONE Fund, will declare an acceleration of the debt—a loss of time benefit.”

Silence fell over the conference room. A declaration of EOD. It was essentially a death sentence announcing bankruptcy.

Just how had he turned such a strategy into reality? Knowing that a massive amount of capital must have been mobilized, the look in the legal team’s eyes changed. Dowon’s competence was already well-known through his proven track record and evaluations, but to think it was to this extent. The expressions of those who had properly lined up behind him turned reverent.

“We will notify them that if the full principal is not repaid by the designated deadline, we will immediately exercise our security rights. And that collateral is the entirety of the KD Construction stocks held by Do Jingyu under a borrowed name.”

Dowon’s eyes shone brightly. The legal team leader swallowed hard and asked in a trembling voice.

“Director, what if President Do Jingyu tries to stop this by pulling in emergency funds from even the tertiary financial sector…?”

“He can’t.”

Dowon cut him off firmly.

“I have already leaked rumors of an internal prosecution investigation regarding the Taesung Logistics case. Far from the financial sector, there won’t be a place in the Myeong-dong private loan market willing to lend money to my uncle.”

He would already have to bribe the prosecution and the media heavily to block the imminent slush fund issue. In the midst of this, would he be able to prepare funds to repay a staggeringly large debt all at once? It was an absolutely impossible scenario.

Dowon leaned back lazily against the chair and smiled. In that moment, he looked like a predator just before biting the throat of prey that had climbed onto his palm.

“We just have to wait with our mouths open. Until my uncle’s shares all fall into my hands.”

‧₊˚🍊༉‧₊˚.

The following afternoon. The house was quiet, and autumn rain was pattering outside. Sitting on the sofa, Yeohwi watched the TV with a tense expression.

At the bottom of the news screen, red captions flowed urgently.

[Breaking News] Prosecution raids KD Group affiliate ‘Taesung Logistics’… Suspicions of slush fund creation.

‘It’s started.’

Yeohwi clenched his fists. The anchor’s urgent voice broke the silence of the living room.

“This is breaking news. This morning, the prosecution dispatched investigators to the headquarters of Taesung Logistics, an unlisted affiliate of the KD Group, and launched a sudden raid.”

The screen changed, showing the busy scene of prosecution investigators exiting the building carrying blue boxes. Numerous reporters followed behind them, snapping flashes.

“It is reported that the prosecution received intelligence that Taesung Logistics was used as a channel for the owner family’s slush fund and is currently securing accounting books and hard drives. In particular, this investigation is expected to focus on clarifying where dividends amounting to tens of billions of won have flowed.”

The caption changed to ‘Exclusive: Suspicions of owner family private interest pursuit, will investigation expand?’, and a diagram of Taesung Logistics’ share structure appeared on the screen. Do Jingyu’s name was highlighted in bold red.

It was the signal flare launched by Dowon.

Watching the panorama of the KD Group headquarters on the screen, Yeohwi thought of Dowon, who would be fighting fiercely inside. He covered his wrist with one hand and rubbed it. He could feel the cold metallic watch.

It felt just like Dowon.

‧₊˚🍊༉‧₊˚.

At the same time, the KD Group President’s office.

Do Jingyu was standing by the window, wiping the leaves of a lush Cheonjong orchid.

The Chief Secretary rushed in and turned on the TV, but Do Jingyu only snorted, listening to the news anchor’s voice like background music. He leisurely dusted the leaves.

“President, the prosecution has all left. They swept up the ledgers and took them away.”

“Don’t make a fuss.”

Do Jingyu clicked his tongue as he put down the cloth. He chuckled as he watched the raid scene on the TV screen.

“They think they can catch me with just this?”

Do Jingyu snatched the remote from the Chief Secretary and changed the channel.

“Taesung Logistics? Let them dig all they want. The books have already been matched two or three times over. There won’t be any decisive evidence, so at most, I’ll just end up paying a fine.”

Then he flopped onto the sofa and crossed his legs.

“No wonder. I wondered why he went on something as uncharacteristic as a honeymoon. He was preparing to show his claws beneath the surface, wasn’t he?”

His face was full of arrogant confidence instead of a sense of crisis.

“The brat puts on a scary act, but he still has a long way to go. Anyway, the top levels of the prosecution are all guys who have taken my bribes. It’s a matter that will be quietly covered up with a few phone calls.”

Do Jingyu signaled to Manager Kim as he clipped the end of a cigar.

“Manager Kim, contact the head of the legal team. And tell them to activate the lines in the prosecution.”

Placing a top-quality Cuban cigar in his mouth, Do Jingyu grumbled as he flicked his lighter.

“Still, tsk, it’s become a bit of a nuisance. Because Dowon is barking, I’m going to have to shell out cash from my pocket. This time, I should spread money more generously than usual to set an example.”

Do Jingyu was certain. That this was just a predictable check thrown by Dowon. A shallow move that could be sufficiently blocked with money and connections.

Without having the slightest idea how rotten and moldy the hand he held was, and from where the real blade that would cut that rotten rope was flying.

“By the way. How did the task I assigned proceed?”

Exhaling a long puff of smoke, Do Jingyu looked at the Chief Secretary and signaled with his eyes.

Manager Kim cautiously handed over a manila envelope.

“Ah, yes. I was so distracted by the raid. I was going to report to you anyway. These are the results of the background check on Seong Yeohwi.”

The Chief Secretary’s voice lowered.

“Just as you ordered… we found a person who holds a grudge against him.”

Do Jingyu opened the envelope and pulled out a photograph.

It was a mugshot of a middle-aged man with hollow eyes, worn down by gambling debts.

“His name is Gye Sanghun. He was formerly Chairman Seong’s Chief Secretary, and after Chairman Seong’s retirement, he worked as the general butler.”